Overview

• He died early on August 14 at age 102 after suffering breathing complications following a fall in May, Urasenke officials said.
• Sen served as the 15th-generation grand master of the Urasenke school from 1964 until his 2002 retirement and remained active in cultural and advisory roles.
• A former Imperial Navy kamikaze trainee, he turned his wartime experience into a lifelong anti-war message under the motto “peacefulness through a bowl of tea.”
• Over his tenure he performed more than 300 tea ceremonies in 70 countries, offering rituals to world leaders and at symbolic sites such as the United Nations headquarters and the USS Arizona Memorial.
• His wake and funeral will be private for close family, with a public memorial planned later to honor his century-long contributions to cultural diplomacy.